Annatto Seed

Annatto Seeds are the small, triangular, brick-red seeds of Bixa orellana, the tropical shrub often called the lipstick tree. Each seed is coated in a waxy red layer that is one of the oldest natural colours used by people, and today it is the raw material for the annatto colours used in cheese, butter, snacks and cosmetics.

Arizone International supplies whole Annatto Seeds in bulk for colour extraction units, spice companies, food manufacturers, cosmetic makers, wholesalers and exporters.

From Pod to Seed

Bixa orellana is native to tropical America, where indigenous peoples used the red paste as body paint, insect repellent and food colour. The plant produces spiky, heart-shaped pods that split open when ripe to reveal around 30 to 50 seeds packed in a bright red pulp. In India, the shrub is known as sindoori or latkan and is grown in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and parts of the north-east. The pods are harvested, dried and threshed, and the seeds are cleaned and graded.

Where the Colour Comes From

The colour sits only in the thin outer coating of the seed, not inside it. It contains the carotenoid bixin, which is oil-soluble and gives yellow to orange-red shades. Bixin is converted into water-soluble norbixin during alkaline extraction. Good commercial seeds usually contain a few percent of bixin by weight, and bixin content is the main factor that decides the price of annatto seed.

Applications

• Colour ExtractionThe main industrial use: seeds are processed into bixin, norbixin, oil suspensions and powders for food and cosmetics.
• Culinary UseWhole or ground seeds are used in Latin American and Filipino cooking, for example in achiote paste, recado rojo and achuete oil, adding colour and a mild peppery, earthy flavour.
• Spice Blends and SeasoningsAs a natural colour and flavour ingredient.
• Cosmetics and SoapAnnatto-infused oils give a warm golden-orange colour to soaps, balms and lip products.
• Natural DyeingFor textiles and crafts.

Quality Parameters

• Bixin content, the key quality and price indicator
• Moisture, usually kept low to prevent mould
• Foreign matter, broken seeds and pod pieces
• Colour and uniformity
• Aflatoxins, microbiology and pesticide residues
• Heavy metals

Handling and Storage

The seed coating is sensitive to light, heat and moisture, which can reduce bixin over time. Seeds should be stored in dry, dark, well-ventilated conditions and processed within a reasonable time. We pack Annatto Seeds in PP or jute bags, usually 25 kg to 50 kg, or as required.

Tips for Buyers and Formulators

Annatto seed is usually priced on its bixin content, so ask for the bixin percentage on the COA. For oil-based foods such as cheese and snacks, bixin works best; for water-based foods, ask for a norbixin extract.

Why Choose Arizone International?

We are an India-based supplier and exporter of seeds, herbs and natural colour raw materials. We supply Annatto Seeds graded by bixin content, and we can also provide annatto extract in oil-soluble or water-soluble forms.

Share your bixin requirement, quantity, packaging and destination to receive a quotation for Annatto Seeds.